The number of South Korean youth opting to remain economically inactive without a specific reason set a new record in July, data showed Sunday, amid economic uncertainties and high job competition.

The number of such individuals aged 15 to 29 reached 443,000 last month, an increase of 42,000 from a year earlier, marking the highest level for any July, according to data compiled by Statistics Korea.

The group includes individuals who, despite not suffering from any illness or disability, simply wish to take a break without a specific reason and are therefore considered neither employed nor unemployed.

The report showed that 75.6 percent of such young individuals expressed no desire to search for jobs, while others replied that they were not looking for work because they believed there were no suitable positions available.

The number of such youth remained at the 200,000 level from 2013 to 2016 but surged to 441,000 in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The figure surpassed the comparable numbers for those
in their 30s and 40s, which stood at 288,000 and 284,000, respectively, in July, the data showed.

Source: Yonhap News Agency